Chapter 1

Anastasia's POV 

At last, I am finally going to be together with my mate. 

After seven good years of being together as a lovely couple, our wedding is finally here. 

I have loved Antonio with all my heart. 

Since the day we both found out that we were mates, we have been looking forward to being together as one and our wedding day is finally here. 

I was filled with excitement, my heart swelled in anticipation as I sleep into my white wedding dress adorned with stones that had taken months to create. 

The makeup artist had just finished her final touch on my face when the door to my room was pushed open and my father stepped in with a smile. 

"You look beautiful, My daughter." Father's voice was filled with excitement as he gave me a proud smile. 

Father held my hand and we both stepped out. The ceremony was held in my father's garden. 

The garden was filled with people. They all turned their gaze on me with a smile. 

I could hardly wait to see Antonio at the altar, to take his hand in mine and promise to love him forever. 

Father was smiling happily as he walked me down the aisle. His pride and joy are evident in every step he takes. 

I glanced over at my stepmother, Stephanie, who was seated in the front row. Her expression was unreadable, a slight smirk playing on her lips, making my heart skip in fear. 

I dismissed the weird feelings as I saw it as a feeling of nervousness. 

Stephanie and I have never been close ever since my father chose her as his mate after the death of my mother but I make peace with her, believing she genuinely loves my father and my father's happiness matters a lot to me.

My heart glowed with excitement when I saw Antonio, standing with the priest. 

He was wearing a blue suit that matched his blue eyes, and his hair was neatly trimmed, making him more handsome. 

Father left my hand as we got to the altar and he went to take his seat beside Stephanie, his mate.

A large screen has been set out to display a slideshow of our journey together, to show everyone our love story. 

I stood with Antonio, our hands intertwined as the light dimmed and our first image began to display. 

I squeezed Antonio's hand slightly with excitement, my mouth ached from the broad smile, plastered on it as I felt thousands of butterflies, dancing in my tummy. 

As the photo was displayed, the atmosphere shifted, gasping and murmuring spread through the garden like wide fire. 

Intimate photos of Stephanie, my stepmother, and Antonio were displayed on the large screen meant to showcase the love story of Antonio and I. 

My heart hammered against my chest as all the butterflies in my tummy solidified into lead, settling in the pit of my stomach. 

My whole body vibrated with fear, I blinked my eyes severally to make sure that I wasn't hallucinating but it was them, Antonio and Stephanie. 

A horrified silence fell over the place. I  glanced at my father's side and I saw him, standing shakily with a look of disbelief on his face. 

His complexion turn an alarming shade of red, making my heart danced madly in fear but before I could reach him, he clutched his chest, suffering a heart attack from the shock and collapse. 

A shock wave of panic went through my soul, "Father!!" I screamed in agony, my heart thundered with fear as I ran to his side, shaking and calling out his name. 

The whole place became chaotic as guests ran to help and someone called for an ambulance. 

I stood frozen, tears streaming down my cheeks while I watched my father, taken away on a stretcher. 

I couldn't believe what just happened, everything felt like a dream. 

My happy day has just turned into my worst nightmare. 

I rushed to the hospital, my wedding dress now a symbol of betrayal and despair. 

I paced forth and back in the sterile waiting room, my heart weighed heavy in my chest, and tears fell down my cheeks. I pray silently to the moon goddess to save my father. 

Hours passed with no words, my father was still in the emergency room, and despite father's critical condition, Antonio and Stephanie were nowhere to be found. 

My heart quivered in fear when I saw one of the doctors approaching me with a stern face. "How is my father?" 

"His condition is critical. He suffered a heart attack from shock." 

"Please, doctor, do all you can to save my father, he's the only one I have in this world." I choked on my words as tears ran down my face. 

"We will do our best." the doctor patted my back and left. 

The next day, I was still in my wedding dress, sitting beside my father on the hospital bed as he was placed on life support. 

"What did I do wrong? Why would Antonio choose to hurt me this way? Is there something I was not doing right?"  Different thoughts run through my head. 

I loved him with all my heart, I did everything to make him happy and my father took him like the son he never had. 

Why would he break my heart this way?

I was startled by the door that was suddenly pushed open, jolting me out of my thoughts. 

I spun around and saw Stephanie and Antonio, stepping in. 

Stephanie had a slight smirk playing on her lips as she looked at me with disgust.

"Did you know you look so pathetic right now?" she mocked. 

"There is no need to hide it anymore." she gazed at me, mockingly, "I want you to know that Antonio was my true mate, he never loved you. He was with you because of your father's money, I am his only through love." 

Her words cut through my heart like a dagger, I turned to Antonio, searching his face for the man I love but his expression was cold, devoid of the warmth and affection I had always seen. 

"What is she saying?" My voice came in a whisper, my heart weighed heavy in my chest as tears forced to come out of my eyes. 

Antonio chuckled at me devilishly, "Why did you look so shocked? Do you think I will ever accept second-hand goods like you as my mate? No, I can't. I only stay with you because of the financial gain and nothing more." his voice devoid of any emotion as he gazed at me with disgust. 

His revelation shattered my heart into a million pieces beyond repair. 

I was the only child of my father and he had promised to give fifty percent share of his company to any man that would marry me. I never knew that Antonio was with me because of that. 

He made me believe that he genuinely loves me. I gave him all my heart. How could be betray me like this? 

"No, you are my mate, you can't do this to me." 

"Let me make this official," he looked at me menacingly, stepping closer to me. 

"I Antonio Greg, reject you, Anastasia Liam as my mate." he spat coldly and I felt my wolf collapse in pain. 

My heart clenched with pains, I was hesitating to accept the rejection but he gripped my neck roughly and forced me to accept it. 

I accepted his rejection with a heavy heart and we both staggered back from the bond breaking. 

He call off the wedding and left with Stephanie who looked at me mockingly. 

Tears of betrayal and heartbreak fell down my cheeks. Seven years of my love, shared dreams, and promises, have just crumbled to dust. 

My heart bled with despair, defeat, and pain. 

Shortly after they left, Shirley, my father's assistant, ran in. 

"There is trouble." She said, panting and gasping for air. 

"What is the problem?" 

"Your father transferred all his shares to Stephanie and she wants to take control of the company." 

"What!" My heart leaped in my chest, "How did this happen?" I asked in a daze. 

"I don't know," 

This is not happening, Stephanie never loved my father, she has proven that she's with him because of his money and I can't allow her to take over the company that my father worked so hard to build. 

"What are we going to do?" I asked Shirley, who stood for a while, trying to come up with a solution. 

Shirley suggested that I should get help from Antonio's family and I dismissed it immediately as I realized that Antonio may likely be complicit in the scheme to take over my father's company. 

"What of Alpha Alex?" Shirley suggested and I felt a glimmer of hope arise amid the turmoil and betrayal in my heart.